Mu_

Notice how this is all in your experience and not nessecisarly something that is actual. You believed something called free will, which you now believe has been disproven by something called science. And now your asking about something called "100% responsibility". Why not "99% responsibility", would you know the difference if it were even something real to begin with? Would you know what 10% responsibility even feels like, or 20%, or 30%? See how imaginary this is. If you get what I'm saying, you'll laugh your ass off.

Existence is existence, its not a "something" that exists. Nor is it a function of sub or simultaneous elements to create the actuality called existence. If you can get to this on a quality level or even a very firm philosophical level that is certain, and not just one of the many possibilities, then the next interesting question to ask is, what does this mean about a so called something called Time. If you can see and understand that existence truely is the case, this means there is no so called time in which existence didn't exist, theres no before it, and there is no moment in which there is a after existence. Time literally doesn't exist except as a "experience or imagination". There's no, "existence started 1 trillion years ago", there for there is time in which things have happened, with befores and afters and laters. There literally hasn't been a moment of time, with a moment after or before. What you think you just read didn't happen in a actual something called time and there isn't a later time when you are done with this paragraph, its only Now that anything Is. Of course the experience of time may or may not continue to be experienced and this is fine either way, to try and convince yourself its there or not there may just keep your mind in a constant rejection of experience, the goal of life is not to see past this. Time can be a relatively enjoyable type of experience and of course it can be painful as well. Perhaps its useful to use what I'm pointing to as a reminder to help you not get caught up in conflicts with time and reality when it feels so painfully certain.

Its funny I made this video yesterday, and today there are like three topics wondering about existence. Interesting coincidence, hmmm. Let me know why you all think, its a good subject to really get into, debate and get to the actual bottom of.

Everyone is different, if you feel "good enough" for now with what you've learned then go with that, in time you may realize or find interest in reading more. Is there something you feel drawn to that is a practice that seems to yield what your looking for?

Sure theres a mystery to all this and thats a beautiful and terrifying aspect, but don't overlook the simplicity and implications of mystery/existence being the only Reality. You, the spouter of rules and beliefs such as if you think you know, you don't know, is existence, reading, arguing, replying..... what else could be happening

It really doesn't matter, and this is the deep part, whats being pointed to is not "something" either plural or singular existing, but the fact of existence is prime, everything shares that constant. Really let in the implication that existing has never not been the case. Let go of the minds desire to then go what is existing then, and see its not that somethings or one thing is existing, existence itself is the irreducible. Once this is understood, the implications are really worth investigating. One question that seems to be core to your question is "stuff". Well lets just go along those lines of assumption. If there were stuff, where would it come from or "get there". Well from existence of course..... Because stuff does not come from "other" places or other "stuff" to make it. So what would "stuff" be made of, again existence, which isn't a "stuff". Okay, if you've really let this in, then the next profound connection is, well then whats asking the questions, whats living and breathing supposedly reading this right now..... Existence of course, what else could it be.. lol.

@Adamq8 So funny you made this post, I just made a video on this very subject. Let me know what you think.

What good would it do you to go around thinking your imagining all this stuff, even if it were true on some fundamental level. What if it were not true, would you want to go around seeing this way because you were told or believe it were true? What I believe leo is pointing to with this saying is something you don't want to just accept, you want to really look deeply for yourself and find out.

In this example I'd say its best to not believe yourself to be god as in the only highest thing with nothing higher, since on a lets call it relative scale, even though thats not exactly correct, there is help. But you gotta really let go of the idea that your hot shit or something at the top of some food chain, there are loving forms of energy that will help if your humble and sincere. I'm being very vague here but none the less useful.

Happy to hear, but don't know to tightly, its always just beyond fully knowing it.

This video probably won't make much sense unless you've dedicated a decent amount of time on the so called path of enlightenment, but if its your passion and your ready so to say, it may click. If not, don't worry, just let it pass.....

I lol’d. Yah it was a in the moment non intentional ?

Actually I think that was the best pointer in that moment. Even to say not a something is just as much a category or something to the mind sometimes. All good either way though. ?

While I'm all for physical health and challenges and enjoy them myself, think about this. Why would something called "pushing ones body" be any more significant to something called "enlightenment" anymore then sleeping all day or doing as little with the body as possible? Why not how far you can stick a hose in your butt be a measure of getting closer to or important towards "awakening". Why not how long you can pet your cat in one sitting?

@Thought Art IF your looking for solutions and willing to try one, then here you go. If you were to die in a few days would you spend it mulling over this or do something else? What ever the answer is, do that as though it were true, because honestly you could die tonight.

@catcat69123 What do you like and enjoy? maybe look for others who enjoy the same thing in a group setting. Meetup.com is a good place for such. Then just start with some small talk and go from there, sometimes you may find one or two people who'd like to go hang out sometime and from there friendship can develope.

Sorry for the suffering you've gone through in all this, its not easy and sounds like something similar to what I went through for a while. What worked for me at the time was to first realize that I was here, otherwise I wouldn't be experiencing "not being here". Right? If you are not here, then you wouldn't be aware or experiencing so called "not here". ITs a thought/feel confusion. In time it become more obvious that what was aware of the thoughts and feelings of "not being here" was me or much closer to truth. By the sound of it, you need to make the transition of understanding the old you that feels like its no longer here, is being seen by 'You', and to become more grounded in that. This is both freeing and grounding and at the same time the it may still be scary and frightening accepting this new change. Hope that helps. It may also help to think about this from third person as well, and someone came to you and said I still feel like I'm in Vietnam fighting other people. And you said, no silly, your right here, look around at the trees and the birds, feel the water its liquidy and comfy, touch it, see for yourself. Right? You know what they are saying is just going on in feelings/thoughts, and not actual, and much in the same way, you believing flashbacks that are not actual.

This isn't a message to do nothing, nor do something. Its also not a message saying nothing can be done, so stop trying. It either clicks or it doesn't. Don't spend to much time dwelling one way or the other. Enjoy.

Right, so why not continue to do what makes you happy. Why the need to supposedly go more spiritual and remove these so you can be happy like already are now while practicing. You see what I’m saying? Even the Buddha still mediated and reflected.

Sounds like you have an idea of what unconditionally happy would be and are following that idea to be happy. I see no issue with this, nor with being happy doing what your doing now....

@Gesundheit2 Ultimately there isn't one, but until you understand this it will feel like there is a way to measure. If there's still a somone or a no-one trying to understand themselves through an objective measurement of being so, then there will be a seeming distraction to what is so, even though that to is part of so. BTW how are you still on this forum, lol?

Well, I'd say seeking vrs not-seeking are ultimately just the same, since nothing is anything but itself ultimately. Does this mean the experience of finding out new ways of experience stop? I don't believe so. If a computer chip is inserted in your brain one day that opens new qualities of experience or you maybe find yourself in what appears to be a new body or non-body, experience will surely change. Maybe there are experiences that don't change, but I've yet to see one, and the funny thing about being conscious is you never know what you don't know nor if it will remain the way it seems to be past the moment that seems to be happening. But even this is not set in stone, because what will be, will be, which doesn't mean knowing something one way or another.......

@TrippyMindSubstance Have you ever gotten a massage? It may simply be just muscle tension in the nk and head area. I'd try that first. Find a place with a lot of good reviews.

In my experience with a good school you can take it as far as you want to. If you don’t want aggression or anything close to it there are poeople who will train at that level. If you want to put some power and speed behind stuff, there are people for that. But if your new. Your first few years will most likely be building strength endurance and technique. No need or ability to prove yourself at that point.

I hear what you saying but I think there is some worthwhile subtlety in the many different ways of saying and presenting “......” or God if you want to use that symbolic symbol, in which I believe each seem to have possible awakening potentials For example is God enlightened? I would say no, God is God, enlightenment and non-enlightenment are concepts of which god are the fabric of Is there someone separate from God? No of course not, there is only God. So that’s where the communication was coming from. Someone never is or was nor could become enlightened or not enlightened. Also as I know your aware of, each person you respond to, you may articulate a little different to get across something, but I do see a potential issue if everyone here is Zen and I’m conveying Christianity. Something I’ll have to continue to be cognizant of.